Your place for in-depth coverage of the Somerset Patriots and the minor-league baseball world

Menu

Monthly Archives: February 2012

The Somerset Patriots re-signed two more players Tuesday afternoon, but the five-time Atlantic League champions remain in the market for fresh talent.

Catcher Yusuf Carter and pitcher Kevin Reese — both of whom joined the club during the course of last season and stuck around until the finish — will be joined by several newcomers this season. Included in that group could be any number of hopefuls who emerge from the team’s annual open tryout, which is set for Saturday, March 31.

“Between Yusuf’s ability to call a good game and Kevin’s versatility, we feel both are very good signings for us,” Patriots president and general manager Patrick McVerry said. “We look forward to what they bring to our 2012 squad.”

Carter hit .247 with six home runs and 19 RBIs in 52 games last season after being released out of Double-A by the Oakland Athletics organization. The nephew of World Series hero Joe Carter, the 2005 12th-round draft choice spent three seasons in the Chicago Cubs farm system.

Reese made 30 appearances, including nine starts, and compiled a 3-3 record and 5.84 ERA in 861/3 innings. The right-hander has spent his entire four-year career in the independent minor-leagues and first made an impression on the Patriots at last season’s open tryout.

Participants in the tryout are required to pay a $40 administration fee — with proceeds going to the Somerset Patriots Children’s Educational and Sportsmanship Foundation — and report to Bridgewater’s TD Bank Ballpark by 9 a.m. The tryout lasts until 1 p.m.

In order to be considered, players must be high school graduates, at least 18 years old, supply their own wooden bats and baseball gloves and sign a release form. They also should present should provide their career statistics to help the members of the Patriots’ front office and coaching staff, including manager Sparky Lyle, on hand to evaluate talent.

“We’ve had success finding players during our open tryouts,” said McVerry, whose team has invited 13 tryout participants to spring training in its history. “It’s a great opportunity for a player to come out and impress our coaches for the opportunity to make our roster.”

BRIDGEWATER — In addition to batting practice and shagging fly balls, Joe Holden will have to spend a good portion of spring training on introductions.

Holden recently re-signed for a third season with the Somerset Patriots, who also added four newcomers – outfielders John Drennen and Jonathan Tucker and pitchers T.J. Hose and Mike Solbach – to the roster for the upcoming season within the past week.

A 2011 Atlantic League All-Star, Holden, who previously played in the Mets organization, hit .272 and ranked among the league leaders with 31 stolen bases. His speed will be complemented by the on-base skills of Drennen and Tucker.

After announcing late last summer that he wanted to play another season, all that Jeff Nettles had to do to make official his return to the Somerset Patriots was sign a contract.

The formality happened Monday afternoon and Nettles will be back for a record ninth season with the Patriots. He is the Atlantic League’s career leader in RBIs and doubles and is in line to take over first place in hits, home runs, at-bats, games played and runs scored this season.

“Knowing that I was coming back helped ease things during the winter,” Nettles said. “You don’t have to weigh the options and it’s a little bit of stress relief. It really gets me excited for the start of the season.”

(PR) — The five-time Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots have announced that the team will open the Diamond Club at TD Bank Ballpark for the 2012 season.

The Diamond Club is a group hospitality space located on the suite level behind the home plate area that is designed to hold groups of 50 people.

The Diamond Club is $50 per person and includes the ticket to watch the game from the club and an upscale buffet for 1 ½ hours that includes appetizers, salad bar, multiple entrée items, side dishes, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages.

The Diamond Club features a full cash bar with a bartender, indoor space with cocktail tables, bar seating, and outdoor seating on the balcony.

Additional amenities include a 60” Smart TV and Wi-Fi to help make the space available for pre-game meetings and presentations.

“We are always looking for ways to improve what we are able to offer to our fans and businesses that enjoy coming out to the ballpark. The Diamond Club is going to be a great place to host an event, conduct a meeting, or just enjoy a game with family and friends. We feel that it is really going to be a tremendous addition to our ballpark,” said Patrick McVerry, President/General Manager of the Somerset Patriots Baseball Club.

The Diamond Club is made up of the combination of suites 305 and 307 and is the first new group area of the ballpark since the creation of the Party Deck, located down the left field line on the suite level, in 2003.

To book the Diamond Club for one of the 70 home games during the 2012 season, contact the Somerset Patriots Group Sales Department at (908) 252-0700.

The Somerset Patriots did not have to stray too far from home to find the first building blocks for their upcoming season.New Jersey natives Dan DeGeorge and Joe Augustine signed last week as the Patriots officially put to bed last season’s franchise-worst record by assembling the 2012 roster.

DeGeorge, who grew up in Annandale and attended Princeton University, hit .256 with nine extra-base hits, 10 stolen bases and 20 runs scored in 58 games after joining the Patriots in June. The 24-year-old utility infielder spent three seasons in the Cleveland Indians organization.

“Dan did a good job for us last season and our coaches and fans both saw how hard he worked for the team every day,” Patriots president and general manager Patrick McVerry said. “We felt that he is the type of player who will continue to improve.”

After spending two seasons pitching in the Kansas City Royals farm system and another three in the independent Frontier League, Augustine, a Highland Park High School graduate, returns home with a career minor-league record of 28-13 and a 3.14 ERA.

The 27-year-old right-hander began his professional career shortly after leading Kean University to the 2007 NCAA Division III national championship.

“It’s always great when you can find a guy like Joe who will be a strong pitcher for us and has local ties,” McVerry said. “He’s had a nice start to his career and we look for him to be a big contributor to our staff.”